Sectional impression roller for rotary duplicating machines



June 23, 1964 J. L. ROGERS 3,138,093

SECTIONAL IMPRESSION ROLLER FOR ROTARY DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1962 //7 yen lb/ /esse Z. Raye/1s United States Patent 3,138 093 SECTIONAL IMPRESSION ROLLER FOR ROTARY DUPLICATING MACHINES Jesse L. Rogers, 2014 Connecticut Ave. NW., Washington, DC. Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,117 1 Claim. (Cl. 101-91) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in duplicating machines such as are used for reproducing one or more copies by impression from a master upon a rotary cylinder, and in particular the invention concerns itself with certain improvements in such machines whereby selected portions of the master may be blocked out so that they are not reproduced on the copies, such improvements being disclosed in a .co-pending patent application Serial No. 801,552 filed March 24, 1959 by Jesse L. Rogers, now Patent No. 3,019,726, and co-pending application Serial No. 838,863 filed September 9, 1959 by Jesse L. Rogers and Frank E. Armstrong, now Patent No. 3,060,847, of which applications this application is a continuation-in-part.

The improved machines disclosed in the aforesaid applications utilize a sectional impression roller and a set of individual holders for the respective sections of the roller, the holders being movably mounted and operatively connected to a set of individually energizable electro-magnets, together with switch means for selectively energizing one or more of the magnets whereby the respective holders may be caused to move selected impression roller sections out of contact with a master on the usual rotary cylinder of the machine, so that portions of the master which otherwise would make an impression on a copy are blocked out. When the electro-magnets are not energized, resilient means are employed for urging the impression roller sections toward the rotary cylinder so that the machine may be operated without blocking out, in the conventional manner.

It is apparent from the foregoing that when only a line or two of the master is to be blocked out, it is a relatively simple matter to actuate a few switches of the switch means, but if a substantial portion of the master requires blocking out, the task of setting numerous switches may be formidable. It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to eliminate this difiiculty by the provision of an arrangement whereby the impression roller sections are normally held in their blocking out position by the resilient means and are brought into operative engagement with the rotary cylinder by energization of the electro-magnets, rather than vice versa, so that when only small portions of the master are to be transferred to the copy, only a few switches require to be set.

Another important feature of the present invention in conjunction with the above mentioned principal object resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby, with a simple structural modification the same parts may be used for urging the roller sections into operative position either by the electro-magnets or by the resilient means, and conversely, for moving the sections to their blocking out position either by the resilient means or by the electro-magnets.

Moreover, in some instances it may be desirable to eliminate the cost and the relatively complicated arrangement of the electro-magnets and switch means with their incidental Wiring connections, for example, in relatively simple and inexpensive machines, and it is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide a modified embodiment wherein the impression roller sections are moved in and out of their operative position by manually actuated linkage.

Other objects and features of the present invention may become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the roller section actuating mechanism in accordance with the present invention, showing the same arranged for moving the roller section to its blocking out position by the electro-magnet;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 but with the mechanism arranged for moving the roller section to its printing or operative position by the electro magnet; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment of the mechanism, utilizing manually actuated linkage.

Before proceeding to describe the present invention in detail, it may be noted that the drawing figures herein correspond substantially to the illustration in FIGURE 5 in the aforementioned copending applications and that the general organization of the present machine is the same as in said applications, so that a detailed illustration and description thereof is unnecessary herein and that the disclosure in this application for sake of convenience and simplicity is being limited to the roller section actuating mechanism per se, which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention.

However, by way of orientation it may be explained that the reference numeral 18 designates the rotary cylinder of the machine, including a covering 18a of rubber, or the like, under which there is a rigid supporting shaft 21, relieved at the top thereof as at 21a, and carrying the several individual sections of the impression roller, one of which is shown at 20. The individual roller section holder 24 includes the members 24a, 24b which embrace the roller section 20, an idler roller 25 being provided in the holder for the roller section 20, as shown. A base portion 240 extends from the holder 24 as a component thereof and is pivotally mounted on a supporting rod 27 in the frame of the machine, so that by rocking the holder 24 about the shaft or rod 27, the roller section 20 may be raised to its operative, printing position against the cylinder 18 or lowered to its inoperative, blocking out position away from the cylinder. The reference numerals used to designate the above parts correspond to those in the aforesaid co-pending applications, as is the numeral 29 which indicates the electromagnet mounted by screws, one of which is shown at 35, on a mounting plate 34 in the machine frame, the magnet having a reciprocable armature 29a and a wire spring 36, anchored at one end thereof on the screw 35, having a free end portion 36a which, in this instance, bears upwardly against a pin, rivet, or the like 150, which serves to secure the armature 29a to the lower end of an elongated bar member 151.

The upper end of the bar member 151 is provided with a lateral extension 152 having a slot 153 formed therein to loosely receive a screw 154 which extends into a screw-threaded bore or aperture 155 formed in an arm 156, formed integrally with the holder 24 and projecting therefrom in a relatively opposite direction with respect to the base portion 240. The spring 36 normally urges the armature 29a and the bar member 151 upwardly, thus pressing the roller section 20 against the cylinder 18. However, when the electro-magnet 29 is energized, the armature 29a and the bar member 151 are drawn downwardly against the resiliency of the spring 36 as indicated at 157, whereby the extension 152 forces the holder 24 downwardly as at 158 and lowers the roller section 20 from the cylinder 18 to its inoperative or blocking out position. While the pin or rivet rigidly secures the bar member 151 to the armature 29a, the screw 154 is 3 sufiiciently loose in the slot 153 to prevent any binding at that point, that is, between the parts 152 and 156 during the translation of motion.

The operation of the arrangement thus far described is the same as in the aforesaid co-pending applications, in other words, the roller section is urged against the cylinder by the spring and retracted to its blocking out position by the eleetro-magnet. However, the present invention also provides additional structure in the form of a connecting link 159 which is pivoted at one end thereof to the arm 156 as at 160 and is pivoted at its other endas at 161 to one end of a rocker link 162. The other end of the latter is formed with a slot 163 which receives a pivot pin 164 on the bar member 151, while the intermediate portion of the rocker link 162 is provided with an aperture 165 to removably receive a fulcrum rod or shaft 166, suitably mounted in the machine frame.

When the mechanism is used in the manner already described, that is, for urging the roller section 20 against the cylinder by the spring 36 and retracting the roller section by the magnet 29, the fulcrum shaft 166 is re moved from the machine and the links 159, 162 are merely idle. However, as shown in FIGURE 2, the mechanism may be reversed in its manner of operation by simply installing the fulcrum shaft 166 and removing the screw 154, so that the operative connection between the parts 152 and 156 no longer exists and so that those parts are operatively connected by the links 159 and 162. Thus, the spring 36 normally acts to urge the bar member 151 upwardly with the links 162, 159 holding the holder 24 lowered so that the roller section 20 is in its inoperative position. However, when the magnet 29 is energized, the bar member 151 is drawn downwardly as at 157, the link 162 is rocked about the fulcrum shaft 166 as at 167, and the holder 24 is pressed upwardly as at 168 to bring the roller section against the cylinder. Thus, with selective use of the parts 154 and 166, the same mechanism may be utilized with reversed functions, as will be clearly apparent.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the same illustrates a manually operated mechanism usable in simpler and less expensive machines, which does not require the electromagnets 29 nor their controlling switches and associated wiring connections. As such, the embodiment of FIG- URE 3 utilizes a key bar 170 for each roller section holder 24, the key bar being rockably mounted on a fulcrum shaft 171 provided in the machine frame. The key at one end of the bar is indicated at 172, while the other end portion of the key bar is provided with a. slot 173 pivotally receiving a pin 174 carried by a bar member 151a which is similar to but somewhat shorter than the aforementioned bar member 151. The extension 152 on the bar member 151a is secured by the screw 154 to the arm 156 of the holder 24, so that when the key bar 170 is rocked about the shaft 171, the holder 24 is raised and lowered, as desired. Means are provided for releasably locking the mechanism in the raised and lowered positions of the holder, comprising a depending extension 175 provided on the key bar 170 and formed with notches 176 which selectively receive a latch pin 177 which is projectable and retractable in a bore 177 formed in a supporting rail 178 carried by the machine frame. The pin 177 is pressed outwardly by a spring 179, the resiliency of which may be adjusted by a screw 180 in the bore 177, as will be readily apparent.

The mechanism as shown in FIGURE 3 is illustrated in the depressed position of the key bar 17 0, wherein the roller section 20 is up against the cylinder 18. Thus, by manually raising the key bar as indicated at 181, the bar member 151a and the holder 24 may be moved downwardly as at 182 to lower the roller section to its inoperative position.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the present invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, such as are within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:

In a duplicating machine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, an impression roller provided adjacent said cylinder for cooperation therewith and comprising a plurality of individual roller sections disposed in substantial axial alignment longitudinally of the cylinder, a plurality of holders for the respective roller sections movable toward and away from said cylinder, a plurality of electro-magnets having reciprocable armatures, a plurality of reciprocable bar members connected to the armatures of the respective electro-magnets, said bar members being movable in one direction when the electro-magnets are energized, resilient means for moving said bar members in the relatively opposite direction when the electro-magnets are de-energized, and selectively usable means operatively connecting said bar members to the respective roller section holders, whereby the holders may be selectively moved toward said cylinder by said electro-magnets and away from the cylinder by said resilient means or toward the cylinder by said resilient means and away therefrom by said electro-magnets, said selectively usable means comprising removable fastening elements separably connecting said bar members directly to said holders, a removable fulcrum shaft, cranks mounted on said fulcrum shaft and pivoted at one end thereof to said bar members, and links pivotally connecting the other ends of said cranks to said holders, said bar members being operatively connected to said holders selectively by said fastening elements when said fulcrum shaft is removed from said cranks and by said cranks and links when said fastening elements are removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,208 Ritzerfeld Mar. 17, 1936 2,787,212 Dclplanque Apr. 2, 1957 2,843,039 Ritzerfeld et a1. July 15, 1958 3,019,726 Rogers Feb. 6, 1962 

